Jam 5:13-20 | TNotes

5:14 ^a The elders of the church were responsible for the well-being of a local assembly of Christians. Elders were selected because of their relative age and their qualifications as Christian leaders (Acts 14:23 ^b; 20:17 ^c, 28 ^d; 1 Pet 5:1-4 ^e; cp. 1 Tim 3:1-7 ^f; Titus 1:5-9 ^g).

• At this early stage in the development of the church (AD 40s; see James Book Introduction, “Date and Location of Writing”), the word church is apparently a non-technical term meaning “congregation, assembly” (cp. Matt 18:17 ^h).

• The act of anointing ... with oil symbolizes divine blessing and healing (Isa 1:6 ⁱ; Matt 6:17 ^j; Mark 6:13 ^k; Luke 10:34 ^l).
5:15 ^m a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick: This proverb is a generally true statement, subject to the will of God. Only prayers that embody true faith will be answered affirmatively by the Lord, and faith for a particular healing is a gift that comes from God. See also Mark 9:23 ⁿ; John 14:13-14 ^o; 15:7 ^p, 16 ^q; 16:23-27 ^r; 1 Jn 3:22 ^s; 5:14-15 ^t.

• if you have committed any sins: James suggests that some illnesses might be caused by sin, and it is important that the sin also be confessed and forgiven (Jas 5:16 ^u; see Mark 2:3-12 ^v; John 5:14 ^w).
5:17 ^x Elijah ... prayed: See 1 Kgs 17:1 ^y; 18:41-46 ^z.

• Three and a half years (see 1 Kgs 18:1 ^aa; Luke 4:25 ^ab) is a round figure, half of seven, which symbolizes a period of judgment (cp. Dan 12:7 ^ac; Rev 11:2 ^ad).
Summary for Jas 5:19-20: 5:19-20 ^ae These verses end the letter as a bookend (inclusio) counterbalancing the exhortation to endurance in 1:2-4 ^af.
5:20 ^ag To save a sinner from death refers not merely to physical death but to eternal death, the punishment for departing from the truth of the Good News of Jesus Christ (see 1:12 ^ah, 15 ^ai; cp. Heb 6:4-8 ^aj). If the sinful person listens and repents, eternal punishment will be averted (see also Gal 6:1 ^ak; Jude 1:22-24 ^al).